The highlight items, occupying the “top shelf” of the jewelry display, are several pieces from Hazel Cox, a bourgeoning legend of jewelry art in the greater Northwestern area. Hazel’s line consists of pendant necklaces of fossilized flowers and diaphanous bits of crocheted silk, bracelets crafted from handmade rope, pressed metal earrings and necklaces as well as earrings and adornments designed from found feathers or fabricated elegant metal fibers.

Hazel has become a fixture of the latest jewelry art scene from Berkeley to Portland, and for good reason. It is truly an honor and a privilege to make her pieces available here at the Co-op.

Hazel Cox’s collection may occupy a “signature series” position in the jewelry display, but there are several other artisan craftworks available as well, not the least of which being a wonderful array of high-end pieces by our very own Alta Rehkugler, including earrings and bracelets made from precious and semi-precious gems and metals. Alta founded “High Designs” handmade jewelry in the early turn of this century, after decades of crafting pieces for friends and family. Alta’s line of tribal, every-day elegant statement pieces are a beautiful addition to our selection!

The High Designs and Hazel Cox displays are complemented nicely by the fine craftworks from Calla Lilly Designs, the jewelry line crafted by Leslie Young from the Boise Co-op Wine Shop. Calla Lilly offers several bracelets and necklaces following a post-modern, Native American/western theme, including a turquoise and earthen-tone motif.

Come check out all of our fine jewelry and artisan pieces available in the HABA department today!

But how do we choose the appropriate sunscreen?

Here are some tips to keep in mind when searching for the best sunscreen options for you:

1)      Don’t trust the SPF value implicitly! Evidence has shown that the greater the SPF value does not equate to extended UV protection. Typically an SPF value around 20 to 30 is the maximum achievable, despite the number printed on the tube packaging.

2)      Your sunscreen should offer Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection.

3)      Avoid sunscreens containing oxybenzone or Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) as these chemicals have been linked to accelerated development of skin tumors and lesions. You should also avoid any added insect repellent – apply insect repellent separately, before applying sunscreen.

4)      Look for active ingredients zinc, titanium, avobenzone or Mexoryl SX. These substances protect skin from harmful UVA radiation and remain on the skin, with little if any penetrating into the body.

5)      Choose creams over sprays or powders – Sprays and powders cloud the air with tiny particles of sunscreen that may not be safe to breathe.

Below is a list of several sunscreens to choose from in the HABA department, listed in descending order of most to least recommended, based upon a comparison of their full spectrum UV protection and the potential hazards posed by any chemicals contained within the sunscreen mixture.

Regardless of the sunscreen chosen, remember to reapply sunscreen often because sunscreen chemicals break apart in the sun, wash off and rub off on towels and clothing.

Please also check out http://www.ewg.org/ for a thorough analysis and comparison of all sunscreens on the market in general. And keep in mind, the best sunscreen is an actual screen – hit the shade folks, whenever you can. But if we must dally about in the sun’s rays, then grab a tube of any of the above mentioned sunscreens and feel that much more secure.

This fall, stop colds, flu and allergies before they stop you…

Get effective nasal allergy and congestion relief with Neti Pot cleanses!

Keep sinuses clear with unrefined Baraka Mineral Salt Rinse!

Baraka Sinus Rejuvenation Oil’s powerful blend of organic essential oils helps to fight chronic sinus infections.

Breathing can be easy with Baraka Breath of Life.

For more information, visit or call Boise Co-op Health & Beauty: 208.472.4533

After a long, hot summer of fun and playing outdoors and, well (honestly speaking), not using enough sunscreen, I’m seeing a few more signs of aging. You know…a couple extra wrinkles, freckles are a bit darker, my skin is a little less taut as it curves around my facial bones… Yes, it’s true. Sun, as much as I adore it, is the most potent contributor of free radicals, which lead to the breakdown of cells and an increase in the signs of aging.

Oh, but the warmth and color we wait for in these long Idaho winters is difficult to resist…no? I grew up in Southern Idaho lying out at noon with a mixture of baby oil and iodine. Those habits are hard to break…
What is a girl to do?

Sunscreen is so important, even on less than sunny days. UVA, “A as in aging” rays, pour right through clouds and windows and into your skin.  UVB, “B as in burning” rays, are the ones that darken skin, causing it to burn and peel. UVA damage is more difficult to detect because it penetrates deeply into the skin. So, just plan on using SPF all year long, at least on your face. You’ll be glad you did. For the best protection, look for mineral-based products that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. I use John Masters Organics SPF 30 and Mychelle Sun Shield 28. I like to alternate, it’s how I am. Both are very effective and melt into the skin so well they can be worn under make-up.

Okay, now that we know our skin is protected, it’s time for the fun stuff! I have come up with the perfect list of our very favorite beauty products here at the Boise Co-op. I do believe we offer the highest quality skin care available, and with a happy, helpful, well-educated staff, why go anywhere else?

First we must exfoliate… that’s right, brothers and sisters— out with the old, in with the new! As we age, our skin cells don’t turn over quite so often and they need a little help to look fresh again. My favorite is Mychelle Fruit Enzyme Scrub. Love it!! It works in two ways, both as a physical exfoliant with bamboo and jojoba beads picking up dead skin cells, and as a natural chemical peel with fruit acids that dissolve the glue holding the dead skin in place. Leave it on an extra minute after you have gently buffed your face in a smooth circular motion for the full effect. You can use this product three times a week, but remember, your face is not the kitchen floor, so be nice and don’t scrub the entire top layer off! As an added bonus, It also contains several anti-inflammatory extracts such as licorice, gotu kola and horse chestnut seed.

If you prefer to relax and let the product do all the work, try Pangea’sGreen Tea and Goji Berry Mask. Full of antioxidants, it fights free radicals while leaving your skin baby soft. Goji berries are in almost everything these days, in fact, I love to add them to my smoothie or my raw cookie recipes! I think everything works better if you take care of both the inside and the outside of your body, and many of the foods and nutrients that benefit our insides also benefit our skin. So, it’s goji in my food, and goji in my mask!

Now that we’re all smooth, let’s turn the bathroom into a high-end spa with a couple handfuls of Kettle CareDetox Bath Salt. This is an amazing blend of Dead Sea salt, epsom salt and essential oils of lavender, grapefruit, cypress, juniper, basil and orange. Soak for 20-30 minutes and emerge feeling 20 years younger! For extra detoxifing effects add a splash of apple cider vinegar— another example of something that’s good for the insides also being good for the skin! (In fact, try this beauty secret: Add 1 tablespoon Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar to 1 quart of water. Drink this every day, and watch the lines fade away.)

After your bath, apply your favorite facial oil. Mine is Jurlique Skin Balancing Oil. It is truly amazing— I saw my skin become more radiant after the very first application. Rose hip, avocado, and shea butter oils soften and protect newly exfoliated skin, and the scent is divine, with a blend of calendula, marshmallow and chamomile that is not at all overpowering. Baby yourself with this delicate oil before bed and your dreams will be filled with sweetness. It can also be used as a lovely hair treatment. Massage it into damaged ends on wet or dry hair, but bee sure to stay away from the scalp/fringe area unless you plan on washing it out before going out.

One final item on my must-have beauty list is Mychelle G2 Firming Serum. Goji berries again, this time used for their glycopeptides and collegen boosting effects. This is a true example of science meeting nature.  I’ve been using G2 since its debut in July, and I feel it working a soon as it touches my skin. Mychelle recommends using two pumps per application, but I use three and spread this serum onto my neck and chest, areas that often get neglected until it is too late.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope that it, and all the other information in our newsletter, will be of benefit. Please e-mail me with any questions or suggestions. I am here to serve.

Be Well.

cathy@boisecoop.com

Baraka breath of life

The Cold and Flu season is here again, and with the introduction of a new viral threat, strengthened immunity is more important than ever. Nasal irrigation is a safe and effective method to use for colds, flu and for the relief of allergies. The daily use of a neti pot has been shown to improve quality of life and decrease dependence on medication and antibiotics. While nasal irrigation has been used in India for centuries as part of yoga practices, it has been recently recognized and embraced by both Canada and the United States as a treatment for rhinosinusitis and as cleaning for postoperative cleaning (http://www.cfp.ca/cgi/reprint/49/2/168).

Fall allergy season can be the most difficult season for many of us, but use of a neti pot can alleviate much discomfort. Daily nasal irrigation can rinse away most of the pollens that attach to our nasal cavity and help to decrease congestion and inflammation. Many people are able to discontinue use of seasonal allergy medication once they switch to a neti pot. Dr. Oz of the Oprah Winphrey show is a staunch advocate of neti pot use and has showcased them on the show many times (http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/slideshow1_ss_oz_20070426/6).

For the month of October, you have the opportunity to try a neti pot at a discounted price thanks to our friends at Red Hot Ceramics. We are proud to offer a 20% discount on all their nasal irrigation products. Pick one up today!
For those of you who have chronic sinus infections, try Baraka Sinus Rejuvenation Oil from Red Hot Ceramics, also 20% off through the month of October. According to customer self reports, this oil has also been effective as a preventative measure against colds and flu. Other uses have been reported to be allergy and headache relief. Baraka Sinus Rejuvenation Oil consists of the most powerful, potent and effective blend of seven essential oils. These oils have been shown to kill bacteria and virus, clear congestion and it comes with a money back guarantee!

Our goal in the Health & Beauty Department is to offer products that we believe are safe and effective. For the well being of our customers, we have discontinued many products that contain ingredients that have been deemed unsafe by various trusted organizations in the natural products industry. These ingredients include, but are not limited to, parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, petroleum & mineral oil.

At this time, we have chosen to continue to carrying a few items with one or more of these ingredients. In any such instance, we have placed a note on the item that explains what the questionable ingredient is, and the reason we have decided to keep the product on our shelf.

We appreciate your feedback and are open for dialogue. If you have questions or concerns, or would like to special order a product that has been discontinued, please ask a Health & Beauty associate.

For a better explanation about ingredients, their uses, and toxicity rating please visit http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ or http://www.sukipure.com/v2/pages/ingredients+to+avoid.

Are you confused by all the advice you hear and see daily on how to “go green”? Do you want to incorporate earth-friendly practices into your life, but you don’t know where to start? Don’t stress! Green guru Sophie Uliano has sorted through all the eco-info out there and put everything you need to know about living a green lifestyle right at your fingertips.

In Gorgeously Green, Sophie offers a simple eight-step program that is an easy and fun way to begin living an earth-friendly life. Each chapter covers topics from beauty to fitness, shopping to your kitchen—even your transportation. Whether it’s finding the right lipstick, making dinner, buying gifts, or picking out a hot new outfit, finally, there is a book that tackles your daily eco-challenges with a take-charge plan. Just consider Sophie your go-to girl with all the eco-solutions. Find out how to:

• Green your entire beauty regime
• Detoxify your home
• Indulge in guilt-free shopping
• Adopt a home fitness routine
• Prepare eco-licious treats
• Give your kitchen a green makeover
• Become more aware of your impact on the earth

The book’s dozens and dozens of eco-friendly tips, products, and practices combine to form a treasure trove of practical advice for every possible way to become stylishly green. Your questions about dressing, makeup, eating, shopping, cleaning, travel, and more are all answered right here. Adopting a green lifestyle is among the most positive, forward-thinking, and personally fulfilling choices that anyone can make–and Gorgeously Green shows that it doesn’t have to be tedious, time-consuming, or glamourless!